This frame expresses the unconventional family connection of Jim, Judy and Plato. The three teens band together because they share in the same feeling of alienation from their families. Jim and Judy pretend to be married and Plato pretends to be their real estate broker; Plato wants Jim and Judy to be his family.
It is apparent from the beginning of the film that the characters are rebellious teenagers who each have different troubled family relationship. The scenes depict the need they have to try to fit in with their peers and find the love they so desperately needed from their families. Judy has been ignored by her parents while Jim is has not been completely accepted by his parents. While Plato has been disregarded by his parents. Now as they are together in this frame, they create a new family and bond over their tough backgrounds. Plato has always looked up to Jim as a father figure. This fulfills Plato’s desire for acceptance from others that he’s never had. However Plato is faded in the frame and Jim is not looking back at him. Although Plato stance is lower than Jim and Judy, implying that he is less than them, Plato remains in front of them, guiding them. This makes Plato finally feels a sense of belongingness.
Jim’s figure appears grand and is the main focus point because he is acting like his father and articulating how he feels about his father which is an instinct that both he and Judy do because of their family’s rejection. Within the scene, the teenagers adopt the voices of their parents. This illustrates how they’re trying to correct what they didn’t have while mocking them. Jim and Judy glance directly at each other suggesting the husband and wife role they portray while on the house tour.
The irregular family connection amongst the teenagers is exhibited through this scene’s lighting, staging, and body language. Jim’s red jacket also contributes to his figure appearing as the main focus point while Plato’s clothing blends in with the abandoned mansion. Continuing on, the lighting in the scene are the candles Plato is carrying. The three candles represent those are the only three people within the darkness of the house. Half of Jim’s face is in the darkness and the other side of his face is lit up. As the darkness is regarded to the emptiness of his true family, the lit up part expressed the connection he has with his new family as he looks at Judy. The angels of the characters the closeness they wish for among each other. The frame captures the growing family relationship between Jim, Judy and Plato.
This topic statement talks about a symbolic interpretation of the three friends banding together to make a makeshift family. Jim taking character as the ‘father’ of the house, with wife Judy, and Plato looking up to him as father, makes Jim the center of the shot. Jim is lit up, while Judy’s face is hidden and Plato is in the shadows. Jim’s red jacket draws attention to him as well. Jim an Judy are looking at eachother, signifying the ‘marriage’ bond they have. The candle that Plato is holding has three candles, representing each of the main characters together in their harsh lives. Plato is blending in with the shadows, as he does in their relationship between the three of them as the third wheel.
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